CRANBERRY TWP — Local charges against a Lawrence County man accused of soliciting sex online with a 12-year-old boy were withdrawn Friday, the same day he turned himself in to federal marshals.

Bradley R. Moore, 44, of Neshannock Township, was charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity by the U.S. Attorneys office, said Margaret Philbin, a spokeswoman with the office.

The maximum penalty for this charge is life in prison, she said.

Moore will be arraigned in federal court, although that date has not yet been scheduled.

Last month an undercover officer replied to an online ad seeking sex, according to a criminal complaint. The ad stated that someone was looking for “couples or groups that participate in real incest.”

In an ensuing email conversation the undercover officer asked a man if he would be interested in having sex with his son, a 12-year-old boy. The poster of the ad responded that he was interested. The two set up an in-person meeting via email and a phone conversation, according to the complaint.

When the man showed up for their meeting at a hotel on Freedom Road, he was placed under arrest and identified as Moore. Police say that in an interview Moore confirmed that he intended to have sexual contact with a minor. He also said that this was his first attempt at having sex with a minor and that it was not his initial intent when he posted the ad seeking sex, but that he was “intrigued,” by the situation.

Three related charges that were filed by Cranberry Township police later were withdrawn in favor of the federal charges.

Township police worked with the state Attorney General’s Bureau of Special Investigations’ Child Predator Section on the investigation, according to the criminal complaint.